Orthopedic Surgeries

Femoral head ostectomy

This surgical procedure involves removing the head (ball joint) of the femur to relieve pain and alleviate hip problems. Common problems helped by a femoral head ostectomy include:

Hip dysplasia (improper hip development)

Legg-Calve-Perthes disease (disintegrating femoral head)

Hip fractures

Hip dislocation

Amputation

We generally recommend amputation when a limb is diseased and/or severely injured. Common problems helped by amputation include:

Severe trauma

Malignant tumors

Osteosarcoma (bone cancer)

Improper bone development caused by birth defects

Medial patellar luxation repair

Patellar luxation is one of the most common orthopedic injuries affecting our dogs, and it is found in higher numbers in smaller dogs like Yorkshire and Boston terriers. It occurs when the patella (kneecap) gets out of its groove with the femur. It generally occurs after trauma, but can also be caused by birth defects that result in improperly formed femurs and tibias. Depending on the severity of the injury, surgery may involve reconstruction of tissues around the knee, altering the groove of the femur and/or realigning the patella and the surrounding tendons.

Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture Repair

Extracapsular repair -Lateral Fabellar technique (Nylon Band Technique) Cranial cruciate ligament rupture is the most common orthopedic condition of dogs and affects all breeds. The lateral imprication is ideal for small dogs and shows excellent results in small breeds but is not recommended for dogs > 65 pounds. If a dog is suffering from this condition it is important to know what went wrong. The cranial cruciate ligament is one of the main stabilizers of the stifle joint in dogs (equivalent to the knee in humans). The ligament is there to prevent forward motion of the tibia bone (shin bone in humans), relative to the femur bone (thigh bone), to prevent further rotation of the tibia bone and limit hyperextention of the stifle. However, this cranial cruciate ligament may undergo tearing or can sometimes rupture during normal physical activity. When the ligament tears, the “knee” becomes unstable resulting in pain due to the joint capsule being stretched, arthritis and potential damage to the meniscal cartilage. In surgery, it will first be determined where the tears are and if the medial meniscus is torn (occurs within 50% of dogs with a cruciate ligament tear) which makes the procedure more difficult.

A heavy nylon material is tied from the lateral flabella to the tibial crest, to stabilize the joint. When the scar tissues forms over the nylon, it will stabilize it even further. The success rate after surgery is about 85% of the dogs will show significant improvement. However, 50% of the dogs after surgery will still show some signs of lameness, either mild or only after heavy activity while the other 50% will regain completely normal function of their limb.

For more information on orthopedic surgeries performed at East Padden Animal Hospital, give us a call at (360) 859-9534.

Opening Hours

Days

Hours

Monday

7:30AM - 8:00PM

Tuesday

7:30AM - 8:00PM

Wednesday

7:30AM - 8:00PM

Thursday

7:30AM - 8:00PM

Friday

7:30AM - 8:00PM

Saturday

7:30AM - 8:00PM

Sunday

7:30AM - 8:00PM

Our Address

Our Mission

At East Padden Animal Hospital, our mission lies in embracing and strengthening the human animal bond by providing exemplary care for our patients. We will be their advocates and will welcome owners to be an integral part of their pet's care. In our every decision, we will act with respect, dignity, and honesty, always remembering that pets are our family.